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Police shoot two robbery suspects following high speed chase

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Joe Teehan

One man is hospitalized and another is in jail after they led police on a high speed chase and fired shots at officers last evening.

Bellingham Police officers responded to a report of a robbery at the Shell gas station in the 4200 block of the Guide Meridian just before 6 p.m. and intercepted the suspects who led them on a high speed chase.

The suspects fired shots at officers during the pursuit, which continued east on the Mount Baker Highway.

The suspects’ vehicle crashed at the intersection with Smith Road and the men got out of the vehicle and fired more shots at officers, who returned fire.

Both suspects were wounded, one critically and the other with a gunshot wound to an arm.

No officers or civilians were hurt.

The suspects are identified as Pastore A. Lopez-Franco of Brewster, Washington and Rafael Martinez-Garcia of Cheney, Washington.

Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo says investigators are looking into the suspects’ backgrounds and whether they may have been involved in any other crimes.